Happy to be going back home, say Indian expats

Muscat: Indian nationals in Oman who are headed home on the first repatriation flight say they are happy to be going back, but are planning on returning to the Sultanate soon. Organised as part of a massive effort to bring home Indians from several countries by the Indian government, the first flight from Oman, bound for Kochi, will take off at 1pm on Saturday, 9 May.
On board it will be John Anil, who hails from the Indian state of Kerala. John, who recently underwent surgery to treat and existing medical condition, will continue his treatment in India.
“I am going to India because I need to continue my treatment,” said John, who lives in Muscat with his wife and daughter. “My wife’s visa has expired on the 3^rd of March, and I work in the oil and gas industry here. I am 100 percent happy to be going home, and want to thank the Indian embassy for their help. I have to go to India to undergo medical treatment for the next six months. Hopefully, I will come back to Oman next year.”
Around 170 passengers will be travelling on the Kochi-bound flight, with another Keralite expat in Oman, NU Mohammed Ali, being another of those on board. A flight to Chennai has been planned on the 12^th of this month to repatriate more Indian nationals in the Sultanate.
“To be honest, I have never seen anything like this, whether in Oman or anywhere else,” said Mohammed, who’s lived in Oman for 38 years, and runs a wholesale fruit and vegetable supply business. “But I feel very happy that I am now going to be able to go back to India.
“I need to go back to India because I’ve had an operation,” he explained. “So to continue my treatment, I need to travel home urgently. I think I will spend about four months there, get well, and then come back to Oman.”